Apparatus for the storage and dispensing of liquids



June 10, 1969 R. W. STERLING 3,448,897

APPARATUS FOR THE STORAGE AND DISPENSING OF LIQUIDS Filed Dec. 16, 1966 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR. POM/4L0 M4 57-504 fuq June 10, 1969 R. W. STERLING APPARATUS FOR THE STORAGE AND DISPENSING OF LIQUIDS Filed Dec. 16, 1966 Sheet 2 fitzr i- T1111-3- ELEZ f i :-3E5

INVENTOR.

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United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for storage and dispensing of liquids wherein a rigid container receives a liquid-filled, flexible bag having a preformed nozzle outlet thereon, the nozzle outlet being insertable through a shaped opening in the rigid container; a capping assembly is then positioned on said nozzle to hold a flexible spout thereon and a housing and lever member can be afllxed by a single fastener such that the lever operates a pinch valve sealing edge to open and close the spout.

The invention relates generally to liquid dispenser apparatus and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, it rel-ates to improved dispenser apparatus which utilizes periodically replaceable liquid supplies as supplied in bulk packaging.

The present invention contemplates a liquid dispenser including an improved valve assembly having desirable features as to anti-drip qualities. In a more limited aspect, the invention consists of a first outer container means of rigid construction which can be used to receive and hold replaceable liquid supplies, such as bulk packaged milk, etc., to position an outlet nozzle in a preferred position at a lowermost level. Thereafter, a housing and pinch valve assembly can be affixed by a single fastener device in controlling engagement with the outlet nozzle and "a flexible spout member aflixed thereon such that liquid can be dispensed through said valve assembly in respons a to the manual operation of a handle.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispenser which can be easily and reliably dismantled for cleaning and/or replacement of the liquid supply.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a dispenser that is simply and inexpensively manufactured out of low cost materials for high volume distribution as in the case of domestic milk supply, the storage and dispensing apparatus embodying an overall design form which is most consistent with sanitation and space utilization in conventional refrigerators.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage and dispensing apparatus which is simple to dismantle, refill and reassemble for dispensing operation, and which provides virtually drip-proof and easily accessible spout delivery of liquids.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of the dispensing apparatus with selected parts shown in exploded relationship.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the capping assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the lever and sealing edge mechanism of the FIG. 1 apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a side view in section of the housing member of the FIG. 1 apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the housing and lever mem- 3,448,897 Patented June 10, 1969 bers of FIGS. 3 and 4 in their assembled relationships.

FIG. 6 is a side view in section of the housing and lever members of FIG. 5 when fastened in operative alignment to the container and capping assembly as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, storage and dispensing apparatus 10 consists of a rigid container 12 having a threaded collar member 14 aflixed thereon at a lower extremity, a capping assembly 16, and a housing and lever assembly 18, this plurality of coacting parts being secured in operative, working relationship by a fastener 20.

The rigid container 12 may be formed of suitable plastic or rnetal or the like to consist of a lower container portion 22 and a lid portion 24 which are shaped to be closed together in proper fitting relationship. That is, it is preferable that a flange 26 of lower container portion 22 and a flange 28 around lid 24 be formed in similar configuration so that they can be brought together in sealing or firmly fitting relationship. The lower container 22 is formed with a hole 30' through a lower point in the end wall. A raised portion 32, generally rectangular in shape, is formed on the exterior of the end wall of container 22 about the hole 30 to act as a seating or alignment projection for coaction with the housing and lever member 18 when it is fastened in operative relationship.

The container 22 and lid 24 can then receive a liquid container 34 therein. The liquid container 34 is a flexible, preferably disposable bag formed of plastic film such as polyethelene, such a flexible bag having proven very useful in the home distribution of milk. The flexible bag or liquid container 34 may be formed by conventional plastic film forming methods, i.e., various well-known seaming and joining techniques. One end wall of the liquid container 34 is formed with a nozzle 36 extending therefrom. The nozzle 36 consists of a cylindrical plastic tube 38 having an outwardly flanged outer end 40 therearound and having its inner end 42 suitably formed in sealing relationship to the material of liquid container 34. In the sealed or transportable form, an additional plastic membrane is formed in sealing relationship across the cylindrical, flanged end 40. After delivery and upon the commencement of usage of the liquid, the sealing membrane 44 may be torn out to allow flow of the liquid from the liquid container 34.

Thus, it can be seen that the liquid container 34 can be received within the lower container 22 and that the nozzle 36 can be inserted through the hole 30 into its operative position. That is, the two-piece collar member 14 can be affixed about the tube 38 in tight-fitting relationship. A lower collar portion 48, suitably fused to the end panel of lower container 22, is placed such that its circular central bore 50 is aligned with the bottom half of the hole 30. The diameter of bore 50 is selected to match the outside diameter of tube 38 and, similarly, a counterbored portion 52 is formed so that it will match the flanged end 40 of tube 38. An upper collar portion 54 is formed identically with the lower collar portion 48 but it is allowed to remain free for removable placement about the spout 36, i.e., tube 38 and its outer flange 40. The upper collar portion 54 is secured in place by the capping assembly 16 when it is fastened in its operative position, and during assembly it is maintained in position by means of the parallel disposed guide pins 56 and 58 extending from the lower collar portion 48 into a pair of similarly disposed holes (not shown) symmetrically positioned on each side of the upper collar portion 54. A keyed hole 59 is disposed through the end wall of the lower container portion 22 and adjacent the upper edge of collar portion 3 54 for the purpose of receiving the fastener as will be further described.

The capping assembly 16 consists of a flexible spout member 60 which is preferably molded from a flexible plastic or rubber material in the form of a sealing disc portion 62 and a cylindrical delivery spout 64 which is extended eccentrically therefrom. A washer 66 may be formed of a suitable plastic material to have the same outside diameter as the disc portion 62 of the spout member 60. A screw cap 68 can then be placed over the sealing washer 66 and the spout member 60 to fasten them securely and in sealing relationship over the flange of nozzle 36 as it is retained within the two half-collar sections 48 and 54.

The housing and lever assembly 18 can then be operatively fastened upon the lower container portion 22 to complete the assembly. Housing and lever assembly 18 is received such that its rearward edges 70 abut within the raised portion 32 on lower container portion 22 and the housing and lever assembly 18 can then be fastened thereon by means of the fastener 20. The fastener 20 is a conventional type of turn fastener which carries a spring 72 upon its shaft 74 as retained by end key 76 and which can be inserted through the hole 78 in housing member 80. When the housing and lever assembly 18 is properly positioned on container 22, the fastener 20 can be inserted through the keyed hole 59 such that rotation of fastener 20 positions end key 76 in a locking manner. When the housing and lever assembly 18 is mounted on the lower container portion 22, a readily accessible handle 82 can be manipulated backward and forward to control liquid flow through the flexible spout 64 which projects beneath a flared spout groove 84 of housing member 80 as will be described below.

Referring more particularly to enlarged portions of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows the manner in which the flexible bag 34 is secured within the collar member 14 and the associated capping assembly 16. Thus, it can be seen that flexible bag 34 with its cylindrical tube 38 (and outward flange 40) is retained within the secured lower halfcollar portion 48 and the movable upper half-collar portion 54 and it is retained securely when the capping assembly 16 is fastened thereover. Capping assembly 16 positions the flexible spout member which consists of the cylindrical delivery spout 64 and the sealing disc portion 62. The sealing disc portion 62 is forced by the capping assembly 16 into sealing contact with the flange 40 of the plastic tube 38 of nozzle member 36. The sealing washer 66 then overlays the sealing disc portion 62 while screw cap 68 secures the entire capping assembly 16 in sealing relationship about collar member 14.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 7 illustrate the housing and lever assembly 18 in greater detail. A lever assembly 86 (FIG. 3) comprises an inverted U-shaped channel member 88 which is formed to be placed in fitting engagement about the similarly shaped rear edge 90 of housing 80 (FIG. 4). The U-shaped channel member 88 may be retained on the rear edge 90 of housing member 80 by virtue of the fact that its upper and outer edge or wall 92 is formed to have a locking taper which mates with a similar molded taper 94 across the upper rear edge of housing assembl 80.

The lever handle 82 is attached by suitable means to a pair of downwardly extending lever arms 96 and 98 (see FIG. 5) which extend downwardly into pivotal engagement with the U-shaped channel member 88, each lever arm having a right angle extension 100 and 102, respectively, extending away from the pivot point. Each of the right angle extensions 100 and 102 has respective holes 104 and 106 formed therein to receive one end of respective linkages 108 and 110 which extend downward for pivotal connection in each side of a yoke member 111.

The yoke member 111 consists of a pair of opposing side plates 112 and 114, each of which has a respective right angle extension 116 and 118 extending therefrom and which include respective holes 120 and 122 at a forward location at which they pivotally receive the lower ends of linkages 108 and 110. The yoke member is completed as a solid, circuitous piece by virtue of an interconnecting upper plate 124 which is fitted with a centrally located hole 126 therethrough; the bottom portion of the yoke member 111 being formed as the forward and downwardly slanted sealing cross member 128, a shaped central portion 130 serving as the actual sealing edge.

An upper pair of pivot posts 132 and 134 are rigidly secured as by welding to the inner and opposite sides of respective inner channels of the U-shaped channel member 88. The pivot posts 132 and 134 then receive respective lower corners of the lever arms 96 and 98 in suitable movable or pivotable attachment. Similarly, a lower pair of pivot posts 136 and 138 are secured to inner and opposite sides of U-shaped channel member 88 to receive opposite lower corners of yoke side plates 112 and 114 in pivotable attachment. It can be noted that the interconnecting upper plate 124 receives the fastener shaft 74 therethrough, but is biased rearward by the spring 72 when the fastener 20 is in its operative position, i.e., maintaining the housing and lever assemblies, etc., against the container 22. This then tends to bias lever arms 96 and 98 to the rear due to the fact that sealing cross member 128 of yoke member 111 is biased upward, and linkages 108 and 110 will bias the right angle. extensions 100 and 102 upward.

The housing member formed of suitable plastic or other easily worked and inexpensive material, is formed to have a lower shaped portion 140 which flares forward to form the spout groove 84. An upper horizontal panel 142 of housing member 80 is formed with a pair of parallel and longitudinally extending slots 144 and 146 which receive the lever arms 96 and 98 therethrough and allow suflicient room for manipulation thereof. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that housing member 80, having its rear edge inserted within the symmetric U- shaped channel 88, can be placed in proper alignment within the raised portions 32 on the front face of container 22 and, thereafter, fastener 20 with spring 72 thereon can be inserted and locked by a half turn of the fastener shaft 74 to enable operative affixture of the related components. That is, the bias spring 72 will urge the upper plate 124 of the yoke member 111 rearward tending to lift the respective right angle extensions and 102 to raise the linkages 108 and connected to respective lower right angle extensions 116 and 118 such that the sealing cross member 128 and its shaped central portion sealing edge pinch the flexible spout 64 against the inner, central portion of the spout groove 84 thereby preventing flow of liquid out of the storage and dispensing apparatus 10.

Operation As previously stated, the present apparatus is particularly desirable for use with bulk packaged milk, the trend being to less frequent delivery of larger, air-tight containers. Such containers are preferably constructed of either single or double ply, plastic film bags having a more or less standard size spout tube bonded thereon. Such bulk packaged bags can then be received by housewives or other consumers to be easily installed in the storage and dispensing apparatus 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bag of milk 34 can be lowered into the container 22 whereupon lid 24 is to be placed thereover. The nozzle 38 can be passed through the hole 30 and laid in fitting relationship within the semicircular bore 50 of lower collar portions 48 whereupon the removable upper collar portion 54 can be inserted thereover so that capping assembly 16 can be fastened. That is, the flexible spout member 60 including sealing disc 62 can be placed in abutting relationship over the flanged end 40 and collar portions 48 and 54 and, thereafter, sealing washer 66 and the screw cap 68 are placed in sealing relationship thereon. The sealing membrane 44 may be removed from the flanged end 40 of the plastic tube 38 prior to the placement of capping assembly 16, if the apparatus is placed on end to prevent outflow of liquid, or the membrane 44 or stopper can be removed or punctured after assembly of all parts.

When the capping assembly 16 has been installed, as shown in FIG. 2, the housing and lever assembly 18 consisting of a housing member 80 and the lever assembly 86 can be operatively aligned and secured over the collar 14 and capping assembly 16 by means of the fastener 20. It is preferable that a single action fastener such as a keyed lock be employed. As shown in FIG. 6, the positioning of housing member 80 and the associated lever assembly 86, with attendant fastening by means of the fastener 20 and bias spring 72 which is positioned around the shaft 74 thereof, places the storage and dispensing apparatus 10 in operative condition such that it can thereafter be placed in the refrigerator or at another desired operating location. The spring 72 continually urges the yoke upper plate 124 (FIGS. 3 and 5 rearward to bias the shaped sealing edge 130 against the flexible spout 64 to prevent fluid flow. That is, as the yoke upper plate 124 is urged rearward the respective right angular yoke extensions 116 and 118 are urged upward about pivot posts 136 and 138 to bring the sealing edge 130 firmly upward within spout groove 84, the flexible spout 64 being pinched closed therebetween. At the same time the linkages 108 and 110 are urged upwardly to transmit upward motion to right angular extensions 100 and 102 about pivot posts 132 and 134 such that the lever arms 96 and 98 are also biased rearwardly in the position as shown in FIG. 6.

When it is desired to deliver stored liquid, one need only pull the handle 82 forward, bringing lever arms 96 and 98 forward and moving right angle extensions 100 and 102 downward about pivot points 132 and 134 (movement of arrow 160) such that linkages 108 and 110 force the right angle extensions 116 and 118 downward about pivot posts 136 and 138 (arrow 1-62), sealing edge 130 being removed away from spout groove 84 to lessen or wholly remove the pinch effect and allow liquid to flow through the flexible spout 64. Upon release of the handle 82 the bias of spring 72 against the yoke upper plate 124 will tend to cause the pivotal movements previously described to pinch spout 64 closed and to move the handle 82 and levers 96 and 98 rearward against the upper wall 92 of channel member 88 which is their rest position.

It is also within the contemplation of the invention that a rigid outer container with a suitable sealed spout aflixed thereon may constitute the deliverable or the entire bulk packaged item. In this event the purchaser or other such user would only be required to have the described housing and lever assembly, which could be fastened thereon to enable operation or flow control of the liquid bulk goods.

The foregoing describes an invention which allows storage and dispensing of liquid from air-tight sealed containers, such apparatus being relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and disassemble, and highly versatile as to the many applications where it may find utility. It should be understood that the selection of materials as well as the methods of forming and construction may be varied in accordance with the exigencies of particular usage and/or functional requirements.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of elements as heretofore set forth in this specification and shown in the drawings; it being understood, that changes may be made in the embodiments disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for storing and dispensing liquids comprising:

a first container formed of a rigid material and having an opening through a lower wall portion thereof;

a flexible bag in said first container;

nozzle means disposed on, and formed integrally with, said flexible bag, said nozzle means extending through the opening in said first container;

a flexible cylindrical spout;

a sealing disc formed as an integral portion of said cylindrical spout about one end of said cylindrical spout and sealingly contacting said nozzle means;

a washer member;

capping means around said spout and detachably maintaining said washer and said sealing disc in sealing relationship with respect to said nozzle means outside said rigid material container;

a removable collar portion releasably engaging said nozzle means and said capping means for retaining said nozzle means in its position in which it extends through the opening in said first container;

housing means detachably afl'lxed to said rigid material container proximate to said nozzle means and flexible cylindrical spout, said housing means extending in contact with a first portion of the outer surface of said flexible cylindrical spout; and

lever means pivotally secured within said housing means, said lever means including a yoke member positioned for releasable clamping contact with a second portion of the outer surface of said flexible spout diametrically opposed to said first portion thereof.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lever means comprises:

handle means pivotally secured within said housing means and extending outward therefrom;

linkage means pivotally secured to said handle means to be driven reciprocally endwise by pivotal movement of said handle means;

a yoke member connected to said linkage means and being pivotally mounted within said housing means to extend a sealing edge into contact with said diametrically opposed second portion of said flexible spout, said sealing edge being moved in response to said handle means and linkage movement to alternately open and close the passage through said flexible spout.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which is further characterized to include:

spring means aflixed within said housing means and bearing against said yoke member such that the spring bias tends to hold the sealing edge against the flexible spout to thereby close the passage therethrough.

4. Apparatus for storing and dispensing liquids comprising:

a container formed of rigid material and having an opening through a wall portion thereof;

a flexible plastic bag in said container;

nozzle means on said flexible bag and inserted through the opening in said container;

means including a flexible spout removably secured over said nozzle means in sealing relationship;

housing means affixed to said container proximate to said second means, said housing means including an outwardly flared portion which forms a central groove within said housing means and which groove contacts a first portion of the outer surface of said flexible spout when said housing means is proximately affixed; and

lever means pivotally secured within said housing means, said lever means including a yoke member extending into releasable clamping contact with a second portion of the outer surface of said flexible spout which is diametrically opposed to said first portion.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second means including a flexible spout comprises:

a flexible member formed as a sealing disc having an eccentrically extending cylindrical spout; a Washer member; and a retaining cap around said cylindrical spout and maintaining said washer and sealing disc in sealing relationship over said nozzle means. 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said housing means comprises: 1

a cover member formed of rigid material, said cover member being formed as a face plate portion having oppositely disposed side plates formed thereon such that they may be affixed in abutting contact to said first container, said face plate having a centrally located hole therethrough; and fasteher means for insertion through said face plate central hole to secure said housing means to said first container. 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lever means comprises:

handle means pivotally secured at pivot points within said housing means and extending outward therefrom; linkage means having upper ends pivotally secured to said handle means to be driven reciprocally endwise by movement of said handle means about said pivot points, and having lower ends; and a yoke member pivotally mounted within said housing means and having-a sealing edge extending into contact with said diametrically opposed second portion of said flexible spout, said yoke member being pivotally secured to the linkage means lower ends such that said sealing edge is moved in response to movement of said handle means and linkage means to alternately open and close the passage through said flexible spout. 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 which is further characterized to include:

spring means affixed within said housing means and bearing against said yoke member such that the spring bias tends to hold the sealing edge against the flexible spout to thereby cutoff flow therethrough. 9. Apparatus for storing and dispensing liquids comprising:

container means having an outlet opening and defining a predetermined volume of storage space;

second means including a flexible spout which is sealingly secured over said outlet opening and detachable therefrom;

housing means affixed to said container means proximate to said second means, said housing means extending in contact with a first portion of the outer surface of said flexible spout, said housing means comprising:

a cover member formed of rigid material, said cover member being formed as a base plate having oppositely disposed side plates formed thereon to be afiixed in abutting contact to said container means, said base plate having a centrally located hole therethrough and having the lower portion flared outward and centrally grooved to receive and contact said first portion of the outer surface of said flexible spout; and

fastener means for insertion through said face plate central hole to secure said housing means to said container means; and

lever means pivotally secured within said housing means, said lever means including a yoke member positioned for releasable clamping contact with a second portion of the outer surface of said flexible spout diametrically opposed to said first portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

N. L. STACK, JR., Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

